…Finalising NBC’s order, try to muzzle media – Atiku
….Calls it pre-election censorship
…Withdraw NBC’s ‘illegal’ order on broadcasters, SERAP tells Tinubu
….Amnesty to NBC: You possibly can’t dictate to journalists
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Socio-{Economic} Rights and Accountability Challenge, SERAP, and Amnesty Worldwide have kicked towards latest directives given broadcasters by the Nationwide Broadcasting Fee, NBC, on how you can do their jobs.
Recall that the NBC had in formal discover issued on April 17, 2026, citing an increase in breaches of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, warned stations towards actions equivalent to expressing “private opinions,” allegedly intimidating visitors, or failing to take care of neutrality.
The fee additionally warned that as Nigeria enters a vital electoral interval, the airwaves should not be used to propagate misinformation.
However whereas Atiku described the discover as an try to stifle free expression and silence dissent within the media, SERAP argued the discover was illegal and a threat to press freedo.
Amnesty Worldwide, on its half, described the discover as an outrageous and determined try to muzzle the press.
Reacting in an X put up on Saturday evening, Atiku mentioned the code of conduct advisory was “yet one more troubling try to muzzle the media and shrink the area without cost expression in Nigeria”.
He mentioned the nation’s media business had grown right into a formidable establishment, revered globally for its resilience and professionalism, including that it was “alarming” that the NBC resorted to “heavy-handed directives” each time elections approached.
“I stand firmly with Nigeria’s broadcast business and all media platforms resisting this creeping censorship,” Atiku mentioned
He added that moral requirements in journalism shouldn’t be “seasonal instruments to be weaponised throughout campaigns”.
In keeping with him, the timing and tone of the laws counsel a deeper agenda.
Atiku accused the federal government of being extra enthusiastic about controlling the narrative than in guaranteeing a free, truthful and clear electoral course of.
The NBC directive comes amid heightened political exercise forward of the 2027 common election.
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is anticipated to subject President Bola Tinubu for re-election, whereas opposition figures have joined forces within the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Withdraw NBC’s ‘illegal’ order on broadcasters, SERAP tells Tinubu
Additionally reacting, the Socio-{Economic} Rights and Accountability Challenge, SERAP, urged President Bola Tinubu to order the instant withdrawal of the directive, describing it as illegal and a threat to press freedom.
In a letter dated April 18, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation referred to as on the President to instruct the Minister of Data, Mohammed Idris, and the NBC to reverse the discover.
Sponsored
SERAP mentioned, “The NBC’s discover represents a harmful try to impose prior censorship on the media and suppress reputable journalistic expression.”
The group additionally requested the federal government to “abstain from imposing prior censorship on broadcast stations and Nigerian journalists, together with presenters and to permit them to freely perform their constitutional duties.”
SERAP argued that such provisions are obscure and unconstitutional, stressing that “the Nigerian Structure and worldwide human rights legislation defend each absolutely the proper to carry opinions and the certified proper to specific concepts of all types.”
It added “journalistic opinion is protected expression.”
SERAP additional criticised Part 1.10.3 of the Broadcasting Code, noting that “this quantities to prior restraint that impermissibly excludes commentary, evaluation and worth judgments, the core of journalism and democratic discourse.”
SERAP maintained that the NBC’s reliance on broad and unclear provisions risked arbitrary enforcement and will stifle vital reporting, particularly forward of the 2027 common elections.
“The specter of sanctions for broadly outlined conduct creates a chilling impact on journalists and broadcasters, thereby undermining constitutional ensures,” the group mentioned.
The group, which warned that failure to behave may set off authorized motion, said additional: “We’d be grateful if the beneficial measures are taken inside 48 hours. If we now have not heard out of your authorities and the NBC by then, SERAP shall take all applicable authorized actions to compel compliance.”
It additionally urged the NBC to amend sections of the broadcasting code to align with constitutional and worldwide human rights requirements.
You possibly can’t dictate to journalists, Amnesty tackles NBC
Equally, Amnesty Worldwide strongly condemned what it described as an “outrageous and determined try” by the Nationwide Broadcasting Fee, NBC, to gag journalists by means of a controversial directive issued to broadcasters.
In an announcement reacting to the NBC’s ‘formal discover to broadcasters’ dated April 17, 2026, the worldwide rights organisation mentioned the fee lacked the authority to dictate how journalists carried out their skilled duties.
In keeping with Amnesty Worldwide, the directive, focusing on political broadcasts in addition to anchors of present affairs and political programmes, imposes “unduly restrictive and invasive controls” on the media panorama.
The organisation argued that the transfer appeared designed to strain journalists and media organisations into self-censorship, warning that such actions threatened press freedom and democratic accountability.
“Nigeria’s vibrant broadcast media, which editorial content material is impartial, allow individuals to freely search, debate, obtain and impart data and concepts as envisaged by the African Constitution on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Worldwide Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” mentioned Isa Sanusi, Govt Director of Amnesty Worldwide Nigeria.
Sanusi additional referred to as on Nigerian authorities to halt what he described because the misuse of the NBC to stifle impartial journalism.
“The Nigerian authorities should cease utilizing the NBC in an unrelenting quest to silence journalists and media organisations which might be essential to making sure an impartial and various media area that fulfils individuals’s proper to data,” he mentioned.
Amnesty Worldwide maintained that the most recent directive by the NBC was each authoritarian and unconstitutional, urging broadcasters throughout the nation to stay steadfast.
It inspired journalists to proceed finishing up their duties “fiercely and independently with out concern,” regardless of mounting strain.
SPONSORED